Here are some facts about menstruation in India-
A Ministry of Education survey in 2015 reports that more than 60% of schools in villages do not educate the students regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
Let’s see how these facts collectively, and realistically, play out in the life of a typical teenage girl in rural India-
Pooja is a bright 12-year-old girl who has just hit puberty. Her mother, elder sister, aunt, grandmother have never spoken to her about menstruation. As she came home thoroughly scared from school one day, her mother enquired her about her state. Embarrassed, Pooja told her that there was blood on her underwear. Once she had calmed down, Pooja’s mother explained that this was called “mahina” and that she should expect this “impurity” every month for a few days. She then handed Pooja a dirty looking cloth that had been used by her and her sister-in-law during their period. Pooja was told to use this soiled-washed-dried-in-the-sun cloth during her period. She couldn’t visit the temple during her period as she was “impure”, she was told.
Not knowing any better, Pooja accepted this misinformation about menstruation and started using the unhygienic cloth for the next few cycles.
Soon, she started experiencing terrible abdominal pains. Nobody in the family knew that this was a symptom of a Urinary Tract Infection caused by unhygienic menstrual practices. The intense discomfort caused by the cloth, the pain, and embarrassment of being “impure” led to Pooja missing school a few days every month.
Cut to a day a few months after she first had her period, when Pooja attended a menstrual hygiene awareness campaign conducted by Sukarma Foundation. Here, she received the ‘Sukarma Menstrual Hygiene Calendar’ which had facts regarding menstruation and safe menstrual practices printed on them in the local language. It was a massive eye-opener for Pooja who could now connect the dots between her abdominal pains and use of soiled menstrual cloth.
Pooja started using the sanitary napkins provided by Sukarman Foundation. She educated the women in her family about healthier menstrual practices. After initial reluctance from her family, every woman in the family started using sanitary napkins.
Today, Pooja and many like her from rural India, are safe from infections caused by unsafe menstrual practices. They attend school confidently. They talk, study, play, pray freely. They live their dreams without fear.
Sukarma Foundation’s Padwoman on the Wheel program helps women get the dignity they deserve and help them reach their true potential through the following:
In February 2018, Sukarma Foundation created menstrual hygiene awareness in 22 tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh, educating over 20,000 women. Team Sukarma conducted meetings with local elders, had discussions with people to understand the taboos and myths surrounding menstruation, and organised overnight stays at the most interior of villages to understand the milieu.
Our Vision for the coming years is to conduct these workshops at 100 schools, 100 villages every year. Be a part of this journey with us…
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”.
– Helen Keller
